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Nettle Family [Urticaceae] |
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29th Aug 2008, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
29th Aug 2008, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
1st May 2008, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
1st May 2008, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
The plant has similar flowers to those of Pellitory-of-the-Wall; a similar shape and colour and both are tiny and exist as separate male and female flowers with both sexes appearing on the same plant - i.e. it is monoecious. [The male flowers are also red, with four splayed-out white anthers very similar to those on Pellitory-of-the-Wall. The flowers are solitary and nestle in the leaf axils |
1st May 2008, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
The white 'tentacles' bear some resemblance to the red 'tentacles' of Fodder Burnet and Salad Burnet. They are in fact the styles of the female flowers. More female flowers can be seen - they are red and tubular and with 4 red fins lower down on the sides like dart flights. |
3rd Oct 2012, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
A stray stem isolated from the bulk. |
3rd Oct 2012, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
The leaves are minute, between 2mm across but up to 6mm, glossy green on the upper surface and with short bristly but sparse hairs. They are suborbicular, entire (toothless) and alternate. Stem red. |
3rd Oct 2012, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
Manually turned over to reveal that the underside of the leaves are pale-green and matte with visible veins. Branches alternate. |
3rd Oct 2012, Walkden, Greater Manchester. | Photo: © RWD |
It looks like the short projections at each branch and node of the stem help the plant gain a precarious purchase on rough stone and brickwork by means of short roots. Underside of leaves have slightly raised veins. |
Slight resemblance to :
No relation to other plants sharing one of the same common names : This is an introduced low-growing ornamental plant that adorns the lower parts of many walls, covering them in a thick carpet of shiny and tiny, roundish mid-green leaves. The flowers are even smaller and mostly inconspicuous. It reproduces vegetatively, spreading to cover the nooks of walls. It was originally brought over from Corsica. Loving moisture it will grow in swampy environs and has been used as an aquatic plant. It dies back in winter to return in spring.
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Soleirolia | soleirolii | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Urticaceae |
Soleirolia (Mind-your-own-business) |
Nettle Family [Urticaceae] |